New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-03
THE LAST STRAW.
TT WAS THE TREE OF DEATH,


sits straight She never Tolls. As she sat there In
the most uncomfortable chair in the tent she was
great contrast us, who came to the shore with IN
tent to do nothing but lounge and whe appeared 70
be accomplishing our intentions. am sure tnere SO
some people who are never comfortable save wnen
they are uncomfortable As reolined on our coucn
ana looked at Mrs. Rankin could but wonder II Mr.
Rsnla also always wanted to alt straight; II ne dia
not, thought had clew rs to why he now hVeo
BY himself in that old schoolhousc, while she dwes
in the Two-mle. This woman is considerably above
the average native these shores 1t was interesting
to have her spend part of day with us, but could
not put from the feeling that she might be some
what overwhelming a constant companion l
noticed one popularity about her speech; she wouid
frequently speak correctly for several consecutive
sentences and then would lapse with apparent hope
lessness into tange OF subjects and predicates
decided that she knew how to use the simple laws OF
grammar, but that the custom and example OF years
were generally powerful than any other con-
sideratiOn
At our request she had taken of her things wnicn
were black fringsd silk shawl and a sun-bonnet. A
pair of large drabcoored cotton gloves had also Deeh
removed and were pulled into each other IN the form
of ball and placed in the sun-bonnet Her dress was
black alpaca, which so shiny as to look new OF
course it not wrnkled for alpacs cannot wrnkie
Although the cloth looked so new felt that this
Appearance was DECEPTIVE for was sure that not
within thirty years at the very least could any dress
maker have been persuaded to cut q bodice IKE
that Perhaps NAV as well state here that later l
was informed by MRS. MARROW that the dress was new
had never been before, and was cut and msde
by Mrs. Rankin herself 1t was OF that fashion once
known as the ian waist" Those who have seen this
style will know what mean, and TO those VINO
have not l can give no description which wouid DO
sufficiently graphic Ii cut down in the neck so
that slight hint Of the collarbone could DC seem anu
round this neck was iullei on" a strip OF that
Hamburg edelng which is brought round IN packs Dy
Jew peders She wore a white apron with three tueRs
In the bottom, and finished off with more edging
from the same piece.
Now, il YOU think Randy Rankin, in spite OF her
face and dress, to whom you couid feel any
thing like pity or condesoension, you are entlrely
mistaken. There grmness, decision ana q
strength about her. shrewdDess and sense tnat mace
it impossible not TO have sort OF respect tcr her'
she chose dress she did when she was young you
could only BIO amused the conviction that she would
not il you went into convnlsions OF laughter al
her. made the coDvulsious impossible
She was in the habit OF relating some of the nielci
ties cf her married lite with the matteroffac' saim
ness with which any OF the fishermen here might te
OF poor haul at certain seasons. pour haul was
unfortunate but 1t subject which couid DC iuiy
discussed without any docacy
t,ink have said that my walking across the floor
OF tho tent with slippers whose heels cacked at every
step excited in our caller "reminiscences OF her married
lite.
at amt no secret Why Mr.. Rankin aud me can't
live together" she said as she slowly drank her
Lemonade. 4" Did believe in mysteries, anu
when folks want to know the trouble I'm always
willing to Iell EN- Mr Rankin vas SO easy going e
guess he tOulder put up with me- or anyooay' I'LL
the Judgment day, but my nerves can't bear every
thing There two things that decided me- mrs
Rankin here spoke with extraordinary decision
- One was them down-tothe heel slippers. know
where fshed 'em up from; under the caves some
where expect II any rate be come into the ktonen
one morning with them on He want very well that
day. n he staid in the house and KEEP wakin up ana
down; click cack click. cack across that oiicloth
until iet that | should fly. l on bear some Things
we'll enough but some things L can't; and MI
Rankin wayn mother, had got to be awfui tryin.
NV teeth we're on edge most OF the time. said to
him. Hadn't you better put on them list Shippers
yourn went and got 'em and put EN- down IN
front OF him. He didn't he wouldn't put EN- on
that want his way but all the same, he didn 90 IT,
but kept on them things, and kept walkin and clack
in all that day. He want well tor week. ana the
whole of that mortal time he wore them slippers Win
heels that had busted of the uppers jest tar enough 10
let 'en down good with every step. spose you know
there's alwaysa last straw. conclused that had
about reached that straw, and told Mr. RANKIN So
| lie laughed and said he guessed not; he gnessed
things would go With US about as usual. WIN you
believe it, all the rest OF tho time lived with nun,
| about six months, he would never wear any other
| slippers but them had given the matter the most
earnest thought of which was capable was fearful
unhappy and CROWN mole every day The mans
whole nature rasI ed mine so that was sometimes
| afraid of m yse whoa him coming. And yet he
| as.nst his character He must have had his trials
| with me- Luckily for him. he had thick skin"
Mrs Rankin paused and seemed to be looking into
| the past After moment she resumed.
| But Iur faint no whining. Jonas Ranklns
| est what he H. N Pm Jest what be. had made
firm resontion that them slippers even it he em
a long g lived shouldn't be the last straw but
told him fair and square that the very next thing
would be. I'd got the end of my rope. He laughed
| | guess that laugh OF his has made mo as mad 8
health want frstrate and I've noticed prayer seems
To do more good when you're kind OF sound, bodily.
Nc, don't give me more lemonade. wall, what
do you think that man did nextP
Randy waited for to guess, but naturally. We did
not fully know the capabilities OF Mr. jonas RANKIN,
and 50 could make guess at all.
The Tree of Death the next thing" she said
with such an intensity OF utteranue that we stopped
the laugh that rose lips aud waited with what
patience we might
"Yesr she went on I" 1t belonged to his first wife,
she that Lincoln. and he said they used TO have
it in their parlor. This he told me when we were
first married. He gave to his sou. who lives under
the first cliff on the shore yvu know. One day Mr..
Rankin in with large Hat parcel under hs arm.
He took OF the wrappings, and said ne guessed we'd
have that in the sittng-room now. Then he hung up
the thing in place where you see IL, aud nothing
else, il YOU anywhere in tho ROOM l begged
him not to have il there. There was nothing in the
world hated so much. Did you ever see onep
No ws never had It's tall. black dead
looking tree. with horrible picture of the devil
tramping about the roots with waterlng-pot, from
which great streams of water running The devil
has cloven feet horns, and tail with prong to 1t.
He griDnng because the tree is so hourishing. For
fruit there great black balls. and in each ball is
printed the name OF some sin such Lying, Theft
Lust, Covetousness, and other which ueed not
mention. This picture in frame OF wood
painted light bus with gilt 'pngs on 1t. What do
Won think that man was bound TO have the picture
hung there. lie said the sight of 1t wholesome
I I'LL lint atit hada